Candidates for elected office in Grand County will have a one-week window beginning Friday, March 14 to submit their declaration of candidacy and pay filing fees. The final deadline to file as a candidate is Thursday, March 20 at 5 p.m. for the Nov. 4 general election.

This year, three Grand County Council seats ‒ one at-large seat and two district seats ‒ are up for election. Two seats are being vacated by current council members who are barred from seeking re-election because of term limits.

Council members Pat Holyoak in District 1, and Gene Ciarus in District 3 have served two consecutive terms in office. Grand County law prohibits council members from serving more than two terms consecutively. The at-large council seat currently held by Jim Nyland is also up for election. The filing fee to run for county council is $94.11, according to information provided by the clerk’s office.

Several countywide offices are also up for election this year, including Grand County Attorney, Grand County Clerk/Auditor, Grand County Sheriff and Grand County Surveyor, which are four-year terms. The offices of Grand County Assessor, Grand County Recorder and Grand County Treasurer are also up for election for six-year terms. Filing fees for countywide office vary, ranging from $519.98 for county attorney, to $332.57 for clerk/auditor, according to information provided by the county clerk’s office. A complete fee schedule is available at the clerk’s office.

Two Grand County Board of Education seats are also up for election this year. Seats in school district precincts 1 and 4 are for four-year terms, and an open seat in school district precinct 4 is for a two-year term. Beth Joseph currently represents School District land Bryon Walston represents District 4. Elected members serve a four-year term. A $50 filing fee is required for all school board candidates.

In addition to a declaration of candidacy, candidates for countywide office and the at-large council seat must also file a petition signed by 100 registered voters in the county. Candidates for the open seats in council districts 1 and 3 must also file a petition signed by at least 25 registered voters who reside within the specific district in which the candidate is running for office. Petitions are available at the county clerk’s office.

Candidacy declarations and all other required materials must be submitted to the Grand County Clerk, 125 E. Center St. For more information about filing for candidacy, contact the county clerk’s office at 435-259-1321.

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